. the post-arab spring middle east. egypt, which used to be the one who would pressure hamas, who would come in and try to demand a cease-fire and try to mediate, now egyptian officials have come to gaza, stood shoulder to shoulder with the hamas prime minister and called this aggression untenable. the president of egypt warned israel, practically threatened israel to stop this aggression, as he called it, or else. hamas also wants to show that this is a new middle east. hamas is part of this muslim brotherhood that is here in this part of the arab world, that it has new friends, it believes, and it is not going to take it lying down. we're waiting to see how this develops. it could escalate the next 24 to 48 hours. that's going to be critical. bill? >> thank you, christiane. it will's turn to the other side, hamas may be considered a terrorist organization by the u.s. and israeli governments, but in gaza, they are the elected leaders, embolden by new allies after the arab spring. and abc's alex marquardt has been reporting amid relentless air strikes there. >> reporter: as of tonight, israe